Jesus began to do and teach….

Started a new series on the book of Acts and so I thought I would share thoughts on some on what I have learned. 

Acts 1:1 says; The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach.  Thinking about verse 1, we see a key word for understanding the book of Acts and that is the word "began." Luke in the gospel dealt with all that Jesus began to do and to teach until after his resurrection and his ascension into heaven. The gospel of Luke ends with the ascension of Jesus into heaven and in Acts he starts just before the ascension of Jesus into heaven and moves forward. Luke shares that this was the beginning of the teaching ministry of Jesus. Jesus’s earthly ministry was just the beginning of the teaching and actions of Jesus.

I want you to understand what Luke says here. What Jesus did on the earth was only the beginning of His doing and teaching. The clear implication is Jesus had just started. Right now, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, He is not finished as we so often think, but is He is continuing. He is not done and not dead as some think but He is alive and He is present and He was and is and will continue to do and teach until His return. What is seen in the life of the Son of God in human flesh, is the sacrifice of Himself for our sin on the cross, His mighty resurrection and His ascension to the Father’s right hand and that is just the beginning. One of the main points of the book of Acts is that Jesus is not dead and done but He continues. The book of Acts is not just the Acts of the Apostles; but it is also The Acts of the Risen and Living Jesus. Jesus began doing and teaching and He will continue his doing and teaching until the Father sends Him back for the Church.

Let me explain it like this. Whatever Paul accomplished for the kingdom, it was Jesus doing and teaching. Paul in Romans 15:18-19 says: For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Note the same pair of words: Christ worked through me "by word and deed." Jesus is speaking and acting through Paul. He is alive and building His church. That is what the book of Acts is about and that is why it is relevant for us today. Jesus is still alive and He will always be alive! He is still speaking and working and building His church and saving souls. How is Jesus doing this? He is doing this through us and we need to avail ourselves to Him so he will work through us!

So are you availed to Christ?  What is Christ doing in you right now?

Benaiah And Courage

Let me continue with sharing on David’s Mighty Men of David from 2nd Samuel 23 and in this post we will look at verses 20-23: ²⁰ Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. ²¹ He killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. ²² These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. ²³ He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.

I must confess, my favorite among David’s mighty men is Benaiah. He was the son of a valiant man name Johoida who had done mighty deeds himself. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab which compared to the other mighty men who had killed 300 enemies may not seem that impressive, but there’s much more that Benaiah did.

We read here that he descended into a pit on a snowy day to kill a lion and succeeded! Thinking this through, does this sound like something you would really want to do? What do you think the odds would be if you were to fight a lion? How about fighting a lion in a pit? How about in the pit with a lion on a snow covered floor? Most people in their right mind run from lions not chase after them. The Bible does not tell us if Benaiah had any sort of weapon but do you think it would have really mattered? Weapon or not weapon this was more than dangerous. In spite of all the obstacles and difficulties, Benaiah succeeded and his courage clearly is seen in the act.

But there is yet another incident which our author reports where Benaiah battled an impressive Egyptian man. The problem for Benaiah was that he encountered this impressive fellow at a time when he had no weapons. The Egyptian had a spear like that of Goliath and was eager to do battle with Benaiah. Benaiah went down to the Egyptian, with only a club in his hand and taking the Egyptian’s spear from his hand, Benaiah then proceeded to finish him off with his own weapon, not unlike the way David killed Goliath with his own sword. He was a courageous warrior and a man who fought for his King!

The amazing thing about Benaiah is that he was the son of a levitical priest which would put him in line to be a priest – 1 Chronicles 27:5 tells us this: The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were 24,000. We would not expect a levitical priest to take on lion or to take on others and fight anyone for that matter. Here was a priest willing to dirty his hands and put his faith into practice. Perhaps it was as a reward for his faithful service that David put him in charge of his bodyguard. Benaiah was a man of great courage – like we should all be but are we? Are we willing to step into dangerous places and allow the Lord to work? Are you willing be courageous for Christ? Sadly, many are not willing to step out. Many are unwilling to show their courage. Will you?

How are you currently stepping out in courage right now?

I apologize for the slackness in posts and in responding but live is moving quickly right now – been preaching revival services,  preparing sermons, visiting the hospitals, ect.  – it has been crazy – praying for a slower weekend.

Mighty

In Chapter 23 of  2 Samuel we see some of David’s Mighty Men and their courageous acts looked at by the writer.  This week, I hope to post on them  because in them we can see the courage that these men had but more than that we can see how mighty our God is.

Take a moment and look 2 Samuel 23 verses 8-12: These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; and after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn.  He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. ¹¹ Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.

Here we see David’s three mightiest men. They are Josheb, Eleazar, and Shammah. First there is Josheb. Now with him there is a little controversy over how many enemies he killed. Here it says 800 and in Chronicles it says 300 – I have no idea which is the right number – but most likely one is a copyist error. Regardless if he killed 300 or 800 – it is a huge number of people to kill in a day! He is certainly a real warrior and courageous man who fought for his king!

Then we have Eleazar who was fighting with David against the Philistines. Apparently the Philistines were prevailing over the Israelites, at least through the eyes of many of the Israelite soldiers who fled before them. Eleazar seems to have been defending a field full of barley, which the Philistines may have intended to plunder or destroy. Eleazar is fighting alongside David, even though everyone else had fled – these two courageous men stood their ground. The Philistines fell before Eleazar, and he continued to fight to the point that his hand cramped, frozen to the sword. The battle was won, due in part to the courage and perseverance of Eleazar. When the people returned to the site of the battle, all that remained to do was to strip the dead of the spoils. Eleazar fought for his king and stood his ground!

The third of the big “three” is Shammah, the son of Agee. On this occasion, the Philistines were once again doing battle with the Israelites. They gathered for battle where a plot of land had a crop of lentils growing. Once again, it seems the Philistines want to deprive the Israelites of their crops. To win this plot of ground was to obtain necessary supplies and to deprive Israel of them. The people fled from the Philistines, but Shammah stood his ground and striking down a number of the Philistines. Again, a great act of courage showing love for king and country!

There is more to each of these stories because I left out a piece that is mentioned in verse 10 and in verse 12 which is: the Lord brought about a great victory that day. These men showed courage and because they did – God brought about a great victory! It is God who brings the victory. Every blessing, every victory, anything we have is brought about by God – never forget that but also do not forget that you also have to be sensitive enough to do as the Lord directs. You have to step out in courage. Are you willing to swallow your pride and step out in courage so that the Lord can bring about the victory in and through you? Are you willing to do that uncomfortable and right thing so that the Lord can work? The Lord will bring about the victory in your life as long as you are courageously putting yourself the position for Him to work! It is time that we did put ourselves in position for Him to work! Are you doing it – I challenge you to begin even now!

How are you putting yourself in a position for God to work?  What are you doing right now to put yourself in the position for God to bring you the victory?

Titles

2nd Samuel 23:1 – Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, The man who was raised on high declares, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel,

What we see here in this verse is that David shares some of  titles he has in life. He was The son of Jesse: Jesse was a humble farmer and this title shows David’s humble beginning. He was The man raised up on high: David allowed God to raise him up, so he could confidently rest in this title. He was The anointed of the God of Jacob: David was anointed by God, not by himself or merely by man but he had a unique empowering and enabling given from God. He was The sweet psalmist of Israel: David had a beautiful gift of eloquence and expression before God. This title shows of David’s deep inner life with God. These titles all reminded David of who He was; that he was more than just a king, he was a man of humble beginnings, a man raised up by God and set apart by God, and a man who had a deep relationship with God.

I have titles – I am a son, a husband, a father, a pastor, and some would say jokester.  They are all titles that I carry and they remind me of who I am and what God has done for me.  The greatest title I carry though is Son of God.

What are the titles that you have? Do they remind you of who you are? Do they remind you of what God has done for you? What about the title son of God or daughter of God? Are you living up to that title? What title are you living up to today in your life and what titles are you not living up to?

What is the greatest title you have and why do you consider that one the greatest and are you living up to it?

Tebow and Hot Coals

Read this article from the Baptist Press from Aug 17th 2012 -

TEBOW RESPONDS TO ESIASON’S CRITICISM WITH KINDNESS — Tim Tebow, now the backup quarterback for the New York Jets, took another hit from former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason and responded in a way consistent with his solid faith.
“If I was the Jets, you want to know what I would do? I would cut Tim Tebow. I really would,” Esiason, a CBS NFL analyst and radio host, said Aug. 6 on WFAN’s Boomer and Carton Show. “I’m telling you right now I would, and I’ll tell you why I would: It’s just not in any way, shape or form benefiting this team.”
Esiason added that Tebow “has played some of the worst football that any quarterback has ever played in the history of the game.”
USA Today noted Esiason was 15-27 as the Jets’ starter from 1993 to 1995 and never took the team to the playoffs. Yet Tebow responded with kindness.
“I’ve heard nothing but great things about Mr. Esiason. I know he was a great player here, and I just wish him nothing but the best in his announcing, and God bless him,” Tebow said after practice that day.
Tebow uses criticism as motivation, he said.
“And when I get my opportunities, try to make the most of them, just be the person that I am and not let that get me too excited or too down, but just be who I am and go out there and work as hard as I can every day and try and improve and be the best football player/quarterback I can be,” the Heisman Trophy winner said.
Woody Johnson, the Jets’ owner, said he was surprised by the enormity of the coverage Tebow attracts and he disagrees with Esiason. “I think Tim is going to be a valuable part of this team moving forward,” Johnson said, according to the New York Daily News.

I read this article and really began to think about how Tebow responded and my reaction to his reaction was what a godly response!  Rick Warren mentioned this article in a tweet and then added Luke 6:28 and pastor Rick nailed it with a great verse: bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  So often we think we are justified to shoot off our mouths if someone speaks poorly of us and truth be told – some of us think it is justified to shoot off our mouths just because we do not like someone or something.  In worldly wisdom that fits as the right thing to do but in the realm of godly wisdom – we are bless those who curse us.  My mind goes to Romans 12:20 – “ But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

So here is the deal – if someone speaks poorly to you or of you, if someone gets under your skin, if someone is mean spirited to you – bless them, give them a drink, and heap hot burning coals on their head!  Let us all have godly reactions and not fleshly ones.  (A side note to this– let us not be the one speaking poorly of others)

What do you think about Tebow’s response?   What is your normal response when someone speaks poorly of you? How are you at heaping hot coals on others heads? How are you at blessing those that curse you?

To Be Brand New

Finished reading Brennan Manning’s book – The Furious Longing of God – over the weekend.  I really enjoyed it but more than that I was challenged by it. Manning in the book has some powerful personal stories and many great illustrations for the love of God.  At the end of the book there is this quote which I found powerful:

 The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind:  to make brand-new creations.  Not to make people with better morals, but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love.  This, my friends, is what it really means to be a Christian.  Our religion never begins with what we do for God.  It always starts with what God has done for us, the great and wondrous things that God dreamed of and achieved for us in Christ Jesus. – location 1452 on the Kindle

I have to be reminded of this – l am a new creation in Christ. 

Any thoughts on the quote?

Past, Present, and Future

In Psalm 22 – David writes his last song.  At the end of his last song he writes this in verses 47-51: : “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, The God who executes vengeance for me, And brings down peoples under me, Who also brings me out from my enemies; You even lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man. “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations, And I will sing praises to Your name. “He is a tower of deliverance to His king, And shows lovingkindness to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.”

David here sings here of the God who secures and in whom he has found his security. The word “Therefore” in verse 50 calls is a call to look backward.  David examines the landscape of all the years that have passed in his life.  As he does, he sees the clear hand of God has led him, kept him and blessed him.  David sees that his past has been a time of absolute security found in Christ and the only insecurity came when David went astray from the path of God!

It would do us all good if we were to take just a minute to look back.  Look back to where you were when He found you.  Look back to how He saved you and changed your life.  Remember His power, His blessings and His miracles that have been showered down on you through the years.  Remember how He has strengthened and sustained you on so many occasions.  Remember them!

As David looks around He sees the hand of God still working in his life.  He was secured by God’s power in the past and knows that God still has him safely in his hand.  Regardless of what the day may bring, David knows that he is safe in God’s “tower of salvation”.  The past has been a showcase for God’s power in David’s life, but he also knows that regardless of what today may bring, God will keep him safe and secure as long as he stays on the path!

That same blessed assurance belongs to us as well.  Regardless of what the day may bring into your life or mine, we can rest assured that He will secure us as we read in great passages like Romans 8.  Thank God, we are the partakers of His divine destiny as we move through all the valleys, trials and burdens of our lives.  God works in our present, just as He has worked in our past. 

David also looked to the future and he saw God working in his life into eternity.  David knew that God would secure his future just as surely as He had secured his past and his present. We have that same hope!  God did not just work yesterday and He is not just working today but He is working in our futures.   What a blessing and what a hope we have because no matter what comes our way, we are in a permanent relationship with God if we have placed our faith and trust in Jesus! Trust him and stay on the path he has laid out for you.

Today let me ask you – what is one thing God has done in your past, what is is one thing God is doing now in your life, and what is one thing that you see God working on for your future?

More than we can handle?

As I return from vacation, let me share something that David writes in 2nd Samuel 22 verse 18 – “He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.   When I read this verse my mind went to what I hear a lot of people saying these days which is,“God will not give us more than we can handle.”  What we read here in this verse is that David’s enemies were too strong for him.  What I see is that God gave David more than he could handle with his enemies because they were too strong for him. You see I have a real problem with the idea that God will not give us more than we can handle because I think that God does give us more than we can handle. 

Let me explain my position on this:  many will automatically go to 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says, No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. When I read this verse I see it not saying God will not will not give us more than we can handle but I see it is saying that by ourselves the problems we face will be too much for us and that the only way we can endure problems that are too much for us is with Him. 

Many say that God will not give you more than you can handle but they never go to God  and they never really think about God except to add Him into their trite saying.    When it comes around to this idea again, my mind again goes to another verse because  the only way that we can make it through anything in life and through any problems is by abiding in Him.   Jesus said in John 15:5  - I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. That is how we can make it through – by abiding in Him!

Here is what I think about all this talk about God  not giving us more than we can handle.  You see, I wholeheartedly believe that God will give us more than we can bear on our own but not more than we can bear with Him. When you try to take on life’s problems and issues all  by yourself, you will fail, fall short, and really struggle. On the other hand, if you abide in Him and leave it all with Him – He will take it on his shoulders and you will be able to endure! Give it to Him and move forward allowing him to carry the weight of it all.

So yes God will give us more than we can handle alone but not more than we can bear if we abide in Him.

What are your thoughts?  Does God give us more than we can handle or not?

Why or What?

Let me share this little thought that has been running through my mind for a few weeks now…..

When I was a teen growing up the Pastor of the church I grew up in  would say “Ask What and not Why” when it came to life and the things going on or not going on in it.  It has been something that I have tried to practice in life and I find a good amount of wisdom in it.

Here are some thoughts on what I like about this:

Why is a question that many times will leave you wanting – there might not be a satisfactory answer as to why something did or  did not happen.  Why is many times question that is self pity focused.  Why does not move you forward but keeps you stuck.

What on the other hand will bring you answers to questions asked.  What is an outward focused question that moves you forward.

Let me give an example how I think changing why’s to what can make a difference.

Why is this happening to me – notice the focus is on self.  What can I  learn from this – it about self yes but also about information that can be passed on and the answer will move you forward.  When you ask what – God has the opportunity to teach you and show things.  It opens up the process and I see asking Why in life  will many times close things down.

One last thing – I am all for Why’s of curiosity but when it comes to the why’s that come from a poor me – I think that is the time to jump to the what question.  I am not saying it is never right to ask why but I think when it comes to life events that happen to us – what is always a much better question.

Those are my two cents – what say you?  What are your thoughts on why verse what?

Stop and Consider

Last week while on vacation I read a book that really has me thinking and looking to the stars and sky.  I read a book by Matt Redman and Louie Giglio called Indescribable:  The Glory of God in the Beauty of the Universe.  In the book they have breath taking pictures from space but more than that they make great connections between the universe, astronomy, and God.  If you have opportunity it is a really good read. 

I wanted to share a quote from the book that has been rattling around my mind now for several days.  In Chapter 5 Matt Redman writes:

Here we stand in an age that is thirsting for wonder.  In our information-overloaded society, there seems to be no room left for mystery and fascination.  Yet just when were tempted to shrink God down to size – or kick Him out of the the equation all together – there in front of our eyes stands the wonder of His universe.  A great big, awe-inspiring reminder of just who we are dealing with.

Worship has no room for “know-it-alls.”  The soul who lives in the ordinary and mundane will rarely aspire to climb higher in praise.  And reverence for God will never flow freely from a heart that shrinks Him down to earthly proportions. God makes worshippers out of wonderers. – location 589 Kindle Fire.

I read that and then had to reread it.  I am guilty of shrinking God down to earthly proportions.  I have times when I see situations bigger than God who made this giant universe.  I have times when I live in the ordinary and I am satisfied with my level of praise of God when it falls far short of what it needs to be.  Then I also have times when I am reminded of how big and awe-inspiring the universe really is and I wonder at it and I worship the creator of it.

Alert Einstein said, “He …. who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is a good as dead”.    Job 37:14 says, “Stop and consider God’s wonder’s”.  Let us not be dead but let us stand in wonder and in awe at the Creator and all He has made and let us worship that creator – Jesus Christ.

Any thoughts on the quote?  Do you stop and wonder at what God has made?